Captured Men Questioned In Robbery Case

NEW BRITAIN — Police say Paul Germano is a dangerous felon, who justified the SWAT team tactics that helped nab him and another man Monday in an East Hartford motel.

But to his worried family, in court Tuesday for Germano's arraignment on charges that he stabbed his former girlfriend, Germano, 25, is a frightened man with severe mental illness who needs psychiatric help, not jail.

``He's a manic-depressive who doesn't always take his medicine. His view of reality is distorted,'' his mother, Ruth Germano, said in a hallway of New Britain Superior Court after her son's appearance. ``Paul's been sick since he was a child. He needs in-patient psychiatric help, not jail.''

Germano, his brown hair dyed a greenish-blond, stared vacantly around court as he shuffled in Tuesday. His legs and arms were shackled, and he was wearing a white, prison-issue jumpsuit.

Germano, of Newington, appeared on charges that he stabbed and threatened his former girlfriend in his hometown in March. He and another man, Jason Martin, also were being questioned in connection with a robbery at a Manchester steak house Sunday, in which a restaurant employee was shot and wounded. Police say Germano fit the description of the gunman, but neither man had been charged in the robbery as of Tuesday night.

Germano's attorney, Joseph Elder, asked for a low cash bail for his client and for a psychiatric evaluation before Germano's next court date on June 9. Scott Murphy, supervising assistant state's attorney, asked for a high bail, contending that Germano had a lengthy record of arrests and convictions and owes the state 11 years for probation violations.

Judge Howard Scheinblum set bail at $1 million -- $250,000 for each of Germano's four pending case files.

Germano's subdued demeanor was in stark contrast to the way East Hartford police say he and Martin acted Monday morning when police spotted Germano's car outside the Traveler's Inn. The department's emergency response team -- whose members were suited up and ready for a training session -- was called in, and team members, patrol officers and police dogs quietly surrounded the motel. Both men were captured after trying to flee, police said. Police say they seized a handgun from Martin.

In Manchester Superior Court, Martin, 25, was ordered held, and bail was set at $75,000. He was charged with possession of a firearm, interfering with police and theft of a firearm. The last charge was added Monday after police learned that the handgun was reported stolen from New Britain in November, East Hartford police Sgt. Richard K. Vibberts said Tuesday.

Germano was charged with second-degree assault, threatening and first-degree reckless endangerment in connection with the March 15 stabbing of his former girlfriend. Court records say he threatened her with a gun, hit her and punched her, then stabbed her in the upper thigh with a household steak knife. It required six stitches to close the wound.

Germano ran off that night. His attorney said that Germano wanted to surrender, but never did.